Health Benefits of Nature Connection

In an increasingly uncertain world, here is one thing we can be sure of: being in nature is good for us.

The research confirms what we know instinctively about the health benefits:

It clears our heads, lifts our spirits, and leaves us relaxed and revitalized.

It helps us feel better, think better, work better, and sleep better.

And it offers safe and effective natural medicine for many common ailments, including fatigue, depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

The effects are so powerful that even viewing images of nature or scenes through a window has measurable benefits. If nature were a drug, it would be the most widely-prescribed medicine in the world.

In our fast-paced, stressed-out modern world, connecting with nature is one of the best things we can do for our bodies, minds, and souls. And this is not just about our own well-being—it also impacts how we treat others and the Earth.

The following articles briefly summarize research findings about the health impacts of nature connection in plain language. As impressive as those findings are, the range of healing that occurs is broader and deeper than what we are capable of measuring.

A brief overview of the health, social, and environmental benefits of urban trees, including reduced stress, faster healing, and lower crime rates. Notes that the benefits are unevenly distributed by race and income level.